Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-03-25
THE LAW RELATING TO LISTERS.
What Constitutes Legal List and Legal
Vote at Town Meeting.

What Constitutes Legal List and Legal
Vote at Town Meeting.
To the Editor of the Free Fress
have few questions l would like the
FREE PRESS to answer.
In 1856 a quadrennial appraisal of the
real estate in this town wss purposed to
have been made by Henly Hazen, Warren
Clark and Julius NJ. Tatro, listers. In
stead of these three worthless getting into
a wagon or going on foot if they prefer
red, and making personal inspection of
every mans farm for the purpose of know
ing (by SEEING how much they had dete-
rorated or enhanced, they simply waite d
until the "1lth hour" and then only two
CLARK and Hazeu) made an appraisal by
guessing that Mr.. A and BIS farm was
worth so much more than it was in 1882
IAtro told me himself in presence of Hen
~ Hazen, that they, Hazen and Clark,
ignored him entirely and the fact that |
audited an account of $500 for Hazen
and only $500 for Tatro CLARK, the other
lister, did not bring in his bill for services)
as listers, would seem to confirm the fact
that Tatro did not do much. | have had
some talk with Mr.. Hazen as to the man
ner in which they made the apprai sal of
the real estate and he acknowledged that
he did not do his duty.
The story that has been in circulation
was that the listers made the appraisal of
the real estate just the same as in 1882,
used the old figures, but this Hazen part.
ly denies, although he did not give me
even one name wherein he had made any
difference, Notwithstanding he and knew
there had been great changes made on
some mems farms. The fact that one of
the listers to my personal knowledge did
not 90 through the exact form prescribed
by law in administering the oath to the
one making out his inventory leads me to
the conclusion that the North Hero grand
list made in 1856, and all other towns that
lolloWed the same course, are not legal.
Now l want the FREE PRESS opinion
from the facts as stated above, as to how
the grand list of North Island looks in
their eyes.
Again, G. B. Russell, Sd selectman, went
down to Montpelier for the purpose, so
said, of getting the balance $3.50 of the
1000 appropriation for our bridge Pre-
vious to Russelfs trip, c. H. Haw rican,
representative in 1854, was sent down
there by the full board of selectmen and
was paid $1,000 therefor. Hawrican' err
rand being the same as Russells. When
Russell presented his bill before the audi
tors he explained that S2l was for going
down to Montpelier last fall, acknowledge
ing that no one authorized or even asked
him TO go but himself and Charles HYDE
representative, who when up here asked
MN TO 20 down or he (the town of North
Hero would not get the balance of this
appropriation. The auditors thought
Matthew Watson dissenting nasmuch
as the town fathers had hired and paid
one man for visiting Montpelier and as
Russell had gone on his own hook they.
1.-TWO auditors concluded that Mr. Russells
s2l was not allowable and wrote on his
bill as follows Examined and allowed
S97 with a recommendation that the bal
ance S2l be paid. On the last day that we
had town meeting, near the close, when
only few were present, this bill of S2l
was drawn forth and gentleman near by
made motion that it be paid.
a vote was taken and not over four said
Aye" the noes not voting.
Now the question is, is it legal to pay
this bill of S2l under these circumstances
This is only sample showing how the
tax payers are being "smouchedn every
year on North Island.
Yours truly.
G. II. HAZEN.
1t is our opinion that list made under
a deliberate noncompliance with the
law on the part of the listers is not legal.
IT there were fodr ayes and no noes on
any motion in town meeting, the motion
was carried. 1t does not answer simply to
think no, i'll voting in town meeting.
Ed. FREE PRESS.